Coupling device for use in optical waveguides

ABSTRACT

An optical waveguide device comprises a plurality of mirrors, wherein at least one mirror comprises a first and second reflective end that reflect and transmit light. The plurality of mirrors comprises at least one first material having at least one first refractive index; an axis line; a first cladding comprising a second material having a second refractive index; a second cladding, formed above the first, comprising a third material having a third refractive index; a core comprising a fourth material; and a plurality of core parts formed within at least one of the first or second claddings. The fourth material has a fourth refractive index that is greater than the second and third refractive indices and the core parts have a plurality of core part ends coupled to one of the reflective ends where at least one core part end is approximately parallel to one of the reflective ends.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.12/119,748, filed May 13, 2008, and now issued as U.S. Pat. No.7,672,560, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to optical waveguides, and moreparticularly the invention relates to polymer optical waveguides andcoupling devices to extract light from optical waveguides.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Polymer optical waveguides are a promising approach to enable opticalinterconnects as a short reach communication platform for high-endservers and supercomputers. There are also several other potentialapplication markets for polymer optical waveguides.

Known methods to fabricate optical interconnects are based on planarfabrication methods. For example, a lower cladding layer is deposited ona substrate. A core layer is deposited and patterned on the lowercladding layer. The core layer and lower cladding layer are covered withan upper cladding layer. Core and cladding layers are typicallytransparent, dielectric materials. The core layer has a differentrefractive index than the cladding layers. Several of these layersproduce a multi-layer structure with each layer containing one or morewaveguides. This particular fabrication method is generally applicableto both small and large scale substrates.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,388, the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinby reference, discloses a polymer optical waveguide and a method offabricating the same. U.S. Patent Application No. 20070258691, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describesmethods for fabricating polymer optical waveguides, and polymer opticalwaveguides themselves wherein at least one of the optical layers isdeposited by a two-stage deposition process. In particular, thetwo-stage deposition process comprises spinning as the second step.Preferably, the polymer optical waveguide comprises a three layerstructure comprising a lower cladding layer, a light guiding core layerand an upper cladding layer, supported on a substrate. The process hasparticular application to the volume production of polymer opticalwaveguides on large area substrates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Principles of the invention provide improved coupling devices to extractlight from optical waveguides.

For example, in one embodiment, an optical waveguide device comprises aplurality of mirrors, wherein at least one mirror comprises a firstreflective end, and a second reflective end. The first and secondreflective ends reflect and transmit light. The plurality of mirrorscomprises at least one first material having at least one firstrefractive index, and the plurality of mirrors has an axis line. Theplurality of mirrors comprises a first cladding comprising a secondmaterial having a second refractive index. The plurality of mirrorsfurther comprises a second cladding comprising a third material having athird refractive index, wherein the second cladding is formed above thefirst cladding. The plurality of mirrors further comprises a corecomprising a fourth material, and a plurality of core parts. The core isformed within at least one of the first or second claddings. The fourthmaterial has a fourth refractive index and the plurality of core partshave a plurality of core part ends. At least one of the plurality ofcore part ends is coupled to one of the reflective ends, and at leastone of the plurality of core part ends is approximately parallel to oneof the reflective ends. The fourth refractive index is greater than thesecond and third refractive indices.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an optical coupling device within an optical waveguideaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the reflection and transmission of light according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an optical waveguide with a plurality of optical couplingdevices and an endpoint light reflector according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an optical coupling device within an optical waveguideaccording to an alternate exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a liquid crystal display according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The term transmitted through will be used herein to denote incidentlight being transmitted through a reflective end shown in FIGS. 1 and 2as 105 a or 105 b in substantially the same direction as the directionof the incident light. The term reflected at 90 degrees will be usedherein to denote incident light being reflected by a reflective endshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as 105 a or 105 b in a direction that isapproximately at a 90 degree angle to the incident light. The termreflected at 180 degrees will be used herein to denote incident lightbeing reflected by a reflector shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as 106 in adirection that is approximately at a 180 degree angle to the incidentlight. The terms radiated out and coupled out have the same meaningherein. They refer to light that is leaving the waveguide through anoptical coupling device. The terms optical coupling device, verticalcoupling device and coupling device have the same meaning herein.

The Fresnel equations, deduced by Augustin-Jean Fresnel, describe thebehavior of light when moving between media of differing refractiveindices. When light moves from a medium of a given refractive index n₁into a second medium with refractive index n₂, both reflection andrefraction of the light may occur. For angles of incidence where bothtransmission and reflection of light occur, the greater the differencebetween n₁ and n₂, the greater the percentage of incident light thatwill be reflected and the lower the percentage of incident light thatwill be transmitted. Expressed in another way, the greater the deviationof the ratio of refractive indices from one, the greater the percentageof incident light that will be reflected and the lower the percentage ofincident light that will be transmitted.

In an embodiment of the present invention, light is coupled out of anoptical waveguide approximately perpendicular to the direction of lightpropagation within the optical waveguide. One objective of the inventionis to couple a portion of light out of the optical waveguide while theremaining portion of the light travels further along the opticalwaveguide. A light radiating line is formed by having several of thesecoupling devices sequentially along a waveguide. A light radiating planeis formed by having a plurality of waveguides in the same plane, eachhaving a plurality of coupling devices. By placing the coupling devicesaccordingly and adjusting their properties in the right manner, auniformly radiating surface can be formed. This is important for someilluminating and backlight applications, and example being liquidcrystal display backlight devices.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment 100 of an optical coupling device 110 withina waveguide 120. FIG. 1( a) is cross-sectional view parallel to thedirection of light propagation within the waveguide. FIG. 1( b) is across-sectional view perpendicular to the direction of light propagationwithin the waveguide. FIG. 1( c) is a top view. The waveguide is formedon a substrate 101. The waveguide 120 comprises a lower cladding 102, anupper cladding 103 and a core 104. The optical coupling device 110 isformed within the waveguide and comprises Fresnel mirror 105. Theoptical coupling device 110 further optionally comprises reflector 106.The core 104 is divided by the Fresnel mirror 105 into two core parts104 a and 104 b.

In an embodiment of the invention, claddings 102 and 103 are formed froma polymer material, typically but not necessarily, they will be the samepolymer material. The core 104 is formed from a different polymermaterial. The Fresnel mirror 105 is formed from a polymer materialdifferent from both that for the claddings 102 and 103, and that for thecore 104. These components 102, 103, 104 and 105 are formed from polymermaterials that are light conduction and each material has a refractiveindex. The reflector is formed at least in part from a metal material.

The optical coupling device 110 is formed within an optical waveguide120 formed upon a substrate 101. The lower cladding 103 is formed uponthe substrate 101. The core 104 and Fresnel mirror 105 are formed uponthe lower cladding 102. The upper cladding is formed above the lowercladding 102, core 104 and Fresnel mirror 105. The core 104 and Fresnelmirror 105 are covered on the sides as well as the top by the uppercladding 104. Note that in alternate embodiments, the sides of the core104 and Fresnel mirror 105 may be covered by the lower cladding 103, orpartially covered by the lower cladding 103 and partially covered by theupper cladding 104. The reflector 106 is flat and formed within thelower cladding directly below the Fresnel mirror 105, preferably, sothat Fresnel mirror 105 is entirely over the reflector 106.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the core 104 is a cuboid orrectangular prism having rectangular cross-sections. In otherembodiments, it may have other cross-sectional shapes other than thatshown in the view in FIG. 1( b), such as circular, trapezoidal, orelliptical. The reflector 106 is formed in a plane that is parallel tothe bottom of the core 104. In this embodiment, the bottom of theFresnel mirror 105 and the bottom of the core 104 are in the same plane.Their tops also share a common plane, as do their right sides and theirleft sides. That is, the core 106 and Fresnel mirror 105 have the samecross-sectional dimensions 104 x and 104 y in the cross-sectional viewshown in FIG. 1( b), and their ends abut with an end of one entirelycovering an end of the other. In other embodiments, the cross-sectionaldimensions of the Fresnel mirror 105 may be different from those of thecore 106. Furthermore, an end of the Fresnel mirror 105 may not entirelycover or be entirely covered by an end of the core 104, that is, theirends may overlap.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 a, Fresnel mirror 105 has atrapezoidal shape, having reflective ends 105 a and 105 b that form 45degree angles to the bottom of the Fresnel mirror 105 and the bottom ofthe core 104. An axis line 130 drawn between and intersecting the tworeflective ends 105 a and 105 b and that is parallel to the bottom andsides of the core 104 forms a 45 degree angle with the reflective ends105 a and 105 b. This line is referred to herein as the axis line 130.

Each reflective end 105 a and 105 b of the Fresnel mirror 105 is coupledto a matching end of a core part 104 a or 104 b respectively. The endsof core parts 104 a and 104 b are herein called core part ends.Typically, the angled surfaces of the reflective ends 105 a and 105 bare in direct contact with a corresponding angled surface of a core partend. Thus in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a core part end 104 a and104 b has a surface that is parallel to and in contact with the coupledreflective end 105 a or 105 b.

FIG. 2 illustrates the reflection and transmission of light beingcarried by the optical waveguide and incident upon the Fresnel mirror. Aportion of the light will be coupled out of the optical waveguide. Anincident light beam 210 is incident from the left side upon the leftreflective end 105 a of the Fresnel mirror 105. A portion of the lightbeam is transmitted through the reflective end 105 a forming the lightbeam 214. A portion of the light beam 214 is transmitted through thereflective end 105 b forming the light beam 215. Light beam 215 issubstantially parallel to incident light beam 210, but may deviatesomewhat as detailed below in the description referencing FIG. 3. Aportion of incident light beam 210 is reflected at approximately 90degrees up by reflective end 105 a forming light beam 211. Light beam211 forms part of radiated light 230. A portion of light beam 214 isreflected at approximately 90 degrees down by reflective end 105 bforming light beam 212. Light beam 212 is reflected at approximately 180degrees up forming light beam 213. A portion of light beam 213 istransmitted through reflective end 105 b forming part of radiated light230.

FIG. 2 also illustrates the reflection and transmission of light beingcarried by the optical waveguide and incident from the right side uponthe Fresnel mirror. An incident light beam 220 is incident from theright side upon the right reflective end 105 b of the Fresnel mirror105. A portion of the light beam is transmitted through the reflectiveend 105 b forming the light beam 224. A portion of the light beam 224 istransmitted through the reflective end 105 a forming the light beam 225.A portion of incident light beam 220 is reflected at approximately 90degrees up by reflective end 105 b forming light beam 221. Light beam221 forms part of radiated light 230. Light beam 224 is reflected atapproximately 90 degrees down by reflective end 105 a forming light beam222. Light beam 222 is reflected at approximately 180 degrees up by thereflector forming light beam 223. A portion of light beam 223 istransmitted through reflective end 105 a forming part of radiated light230.

FIG. 3 illustrates an optical waveguide 301 comprising four couplingdevices 341, 342, 343 and 344, and an endpoint light reflector 360. Thestructure of the optical waveguide is similar to that described in FIG.1 and discussed above with reference to FIG. 1 with the exception thatit contains four coupling devices and the endpoint reflector. Incidentlight beam 310 is incident from the left and travels down opticalwaveguide 301. Incident light beam 310 is incident upon coupling device341. As described above with reference to FIG. 2, a portion of incidentlight beam 310 is radiated form the optical waveguide 301 by thecoupling device 341. This radiated light is a portion of radiated light331. A portion of incident light beam 310 is transmitted throughcoupling device 341 forming light beam 311 which is incident uponcoupling device 342. In this manner, light is radiated by couplingdevices 341, 342, 343 and 344, as a portion of radiated light 331, 332,333, and 334. There is residual light transmitted through the lastcoupling device 344 forming light beam 314. Light beam 314 is incidentupon endpoint reflector 360 where it is reflected back in the directionapproximately opposite that of light beam 314 and forming light beam350. Light beam 350 propagates back from right to left through the fourcoupling devices 341, 342, 343 and 344 radiating light as a portion ofradiated light 331, 332, 333, and 334. The radiation of light is againin the manner described with reference to FIG. 2. In this manner, theoptical waveguide shown with a plurality of coupling devices and anendpoint reflector forms a line of light radiating points.

Fresnel mirror 341 may cause a small deviation in the direction ofprorogated light. Therefore, there may be a small deviation from thedirection of incident light beam 310 in the direction of propagatedlight beam 311. The deviation may increase as propagated light passesthrough more Fresnel mirrors 342, 343 and 344. Thus, the deviation mayprogressively increase for light beams 312, 313 and 314. To correct thisdeviation, in an embodiment with trapezoidal coupling device as shown inFIG. 2, every other coupling device is inverted. In this way, smalldeviations in the light propagation direction caused by one Fresnelmirror are substantially compensated for by the following Fresnelmirror.

In an embodiment, the intensity of light radiated at each lightradiating point corresponding to a coupling device can be controlled bytailoring the refractive index of the material forming each couplingdevice. That is, each coupling device will be formed from a materialthat has a different refractive index from the materials forming theother coupling devices. The greater the deviation from unity of theratio of refraction indices n_(cd)/n_(c), the greater the amount oflight that is radiated by the corresponding coupling device, wheren_(cd) is the refractive index of the coupling device material and n_(c)is the refractive index of the core.

For the radiating optical waveguide shown in FIG. 3, substantially equalintensity of light can be radiated from each coupling device if theratio of refractive indices deviates further from unity for thematerials forming coupling devices as the light progresses in orderthrough coupling devices 341, 342, 343 and 344. Using this approach, aradiating optical waveguide having uniformly spaced optical couplingdevices can be formed that has a uniform, or otherwise tailored, lightradiation per unit length.

An alternate approach to obtaining substantially uniform, or otherwisetailored, light radiation per unit length of radiating optical waveguideis to adjust the distances between coupling devices, wherein thecoupling devices are formed from the same material and therefore havethe same refractive index. In this approach to obtain uniformillumination, the distances 371, 372 and 373 get progressively shorterand the coupling devices get progressively closer together.

By having an endpoint reflector 360, the light remaining after passingthrough all of the optical coupling devices is reflected back and passesthrough the optical coupling devices again, thereby increasing theamount of light that is radiated form the optical waveguide. Theintensity of light decreases as it passes through optical couplingdevices. Using the endpoint reflector to provide a second pass of lightthrough the optical coupling devices in a direction opposite to that ofthe initial pass helps to cause a more uniform radiation of light alongthe optical waveguide. This improves the uniformity of the verticallyemitted light across several, subsequently placed, coupling devices.

FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of an optical coupling devicewithin a waveguide. This embodiment is very similar to the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1 with the exception of the shape of the Fresnelmirror. Whereas the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 comprises a Fresnelmirror 105 forming a trapezoid, the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 comprisesa Fresnel mirror 405 forming a parallelepiped. The embodiment shown inFIG. 4 has reflective ends 405 a and 405 b that form approximately 45degree angles to the bottom of the Fresnel mirror 405 and the bottom ofthe core 404. An axis line 440 drawn between and intersecting the tworeflective ends 405 a and 405 b and that is parallel to the bottom andsides of the core 404 forms an approximately 45 degree angle with thereflective ends 405 a and 405 b. The embodiment of FIG. 4 alsooptionally comprises a reflector 406.

The optical path of light incident upon the Fresnel mirror 405 differsfrom the optical path associated with Fresnel mirror 105. FIG. 4illustrates the reflection and transmission of light being carried bythe optical waveguide and incident upon the Fresnel mirror 405. Aportion of the light will be coupled out of the optical waveguide. Anincident light beam 410 is incident from the left side upon the leftreflective end 405 a of the Fresnel mirror 405. A portion of the lightbeam is transmitted through the reflective end 405 a forming the lightbeam 414. A portion of the light beam 414 is transmitted through thereflective end 405 b forming the light beam 415. Light beam 415 issubstantially parallel to incident light beam 410. A portion of incidentlight beam 410 is reflected at approximately 90 degrees up by reflectiveend 405 a forming light beam 411. A portion of light beam 414 isreflected at approximately 90 degrees up by reflective end 405 b forminglight beam 428. Light beams 411 and 428 form part of radiated light 430.

FIG. 4 also illustrates the reflection and transmission of light beingcarried by the optical waveguide and incident from the right side uponthe Fresnel mirror. An incident light beam 420 is incident from theright side upon the right reflective end 405 b of the Fresnel mirror405. A portion of the light beam is transmitted through the reflectiveend 405 b forming the light beam 424. A portion of the light beam 424 istransmitted through the reflective end 405 a forming the light beam 425.Light beam 425 is substantially parallel to incident light beam 420. Aportion of incident light beam 420 is reflected at approximately 90degrees down by reflective end 405 b forming light beam 426. Light beam426 is reflected at approximately 180 degrees up by the reflectorforming light beam 427. A portion of light beam 427 is transmittedthrough reflective end 405 b forming part of radiated light 430. Lightbeam 424 is reflected at approximately 90 degrees down by reflective end405 a forming light beam 422. Light beam 422 is reflected atapproximately 180 degrees up by the reflector forming light beam 423. Aportion of light beam 423 is transmitted through reflective end 405 aforming part of radiated light 430.

The embodiment of an optical waveguide comprising a plurality oftrapezoidal shaped coupling devices and an endpoint light reflector asshown in FIG. 3, can be reconfigured to form an embodiment comprisingthe parallelepiped optical coupling devices illustrated in FIG. 4, orreconfigured to form an embodiment comprising both trapezoidal opticalcoupling devices and parallelepiped optical coupling devices. All of theaforementioned embodiments are optical waveguides that radiate light ata plurality of points, each point corresponding to an optical couplingdevice that forms a trapezoid or a parallelepiped. All of theseembodiments can adjust the light emitted by tailoring the refractiveindex of the optical coupling devices and the distances between opticalcoupling devices.

FIG. 5 illustrates a liquid crystal display (LCD) 500 having a backlight505 formed from a plurality of optical waveguides 510, 511 and 512comprising a plurality of optical coupling devices according toembodiments of the invention. The backlight embodiment 505 shown in FIG.5 is formed from a plurality of optical waveguides 510, 511 and 512within a waveguide sheet. In the color LCD 500 shown, waveguides carrythe different color lights needed for the display, typically red, greenand blue. In a black and white LCD (not shown), only white light isnecessary.

In the colored LCD, alternating waveguides carry alternating colors asshown in FIG. 5. Although FIG. 5 illustrates waveguides 510, 511 and 512carrying different colors on different planes, alternate embodiments mayhave waveguides carrying more than one color on a single plane, allwaveguides on a single plane, or waveguides arranged in a differentmanor on a plurality of planes. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, thebacklight 505 comprises all upper claddings and all lower claddings, allcores, all optical coupling devices, and optionally all reflectors (notshown). Waveguides cores carrying red, green and blue light are shownand are referred to as red cores 510, green cores 511 and blue cores 512respectively. Red cores 510, green cores 511 and blue cores 512 comprisea plurality of core parts and a plurality of optical coupling devices.The optical coupling devices are shown in FIG. 5 for the blue cores onlyand indicated by a “/” mark within the core and by numeral 550. Redcores 510 and green cores 511 also include optical coupling devices butthey are not shown in FIG. 5. The optical waveguides 510, 511 and 512contained within the backlight 505 are formed according to embodimentsdescribed above and illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The opticalwaveguides 510, 511, and 512 contained within the backlight 505 compriselower and upper claddings, core parts, Fresnel mirrors, and optionallyreflectors. They may or may not also include endpoint reflectors.

The LCD backlight of this embodiment radiates light of different colors.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the backlight radiates red light 520,green light 521 and blue light 522. The intensity of light, itsintensify per unit waveguide length, and its intensity per unit area canbe controlled as described above by tailoring the refractive indices ofthe Fresnel mirrors and by controlling the spacing between opticalcoupling devices along waveguides. It can also be controlled by thespacing between waveguides and by the density of waveguides within thebacklight.

The LCD 500, besides comprising the backlight 505 further comprises alight diffuser 504 formed above the backlight 505, a lower lightpolarizer 503 formed above the light diffuser 504, a liquid crystalmatrix 502 formed above the lower light polarizer 503, and an upperlight polarizer 501 formed above the liquid crystal matrix 502. Althoughthis embodiment has a light diffuser 504, other embodiments may notinclude this element. If the light diffuser is not included, the lowerlight polarizer 504 is formed above the backlight 505. The liquidcrystal matrix 502 comprises a plurality of liquid crystal elements thataffect the transmission of light in response to electrical stimuli.Operation of the diffusing layer 504, the lower polarizing layer 503,the liquid crystal matrix 502, the upper polarizing layer 501, and theircombination to form part of an LCD are well known in the art.

Another application for the optical coupling device of this invention isto arrange the optical coupling devices along one or more waveguides toobtain specific shaped light emitting areas to construct a character, afigure, a sign or a display.

When there is a vertical height constraint, the low height of polymerwaveguide based sheets is advantageous such as for an LCD or otherdisplay.

Polymer optical waveguides can be formed using fabrication techniqueswell known in the art, such as layer deposition, ultraviolet patterningand wet chemical techniques. Examples of useful layer depositiontechniques include but are not limited to doctor blade, spray coat andink jet techniques. Ultraviolet patterning techniques involve exposingpolymer material to ultraviolet radiation. Laser direct writing isparticularly useful in fabrication of embodiments involving polymermaterials with surfaces at 45 degree angles to the normal, such as theoptical waveguide cores, core parts and Fresnel mirrors. Laser directwriting can be used in the one photon absorption process or the twophoton absorption process.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to those preciseembodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may bemade therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scopeof the appended claims.

1. An optical waveguide device comprising: a plurality of mirrors,wherein at least one mirror comprises a first reflective end, and asecond reflective end, wherein the first reflective end reflects andtransmits light, wherein the second reflective end reflects andtransmits light, wherein the plurality of mirrors comprises at least afirst material having at least a first refractive index, and wherein theplurality of mirrors has an axis line; a first cladding comprising asecond material having a second refractive index; a second claddingcomprising a third material having a third refractive index, wherein thesecond cladding is formed above the first cladding; and a corecomprising a fourth material, and a plurality of core part, wherein thecore is formed within at least one of the first or second claddings, andwherein the fourth material has a fourth refractive index, wherein theplurality of core part has a plurality of core part ends, and wherein atleast one of the plurality of core part ends is coupled to one of thereflective ends, wherein at least one of the plurality of core part endsis approximately parallel to one of the reflective ends, and wherein thefourth refractive index is greater than the second and third refractiveindices.
 2. An optical waveguide device comprising: a plurality ofmirrors, wherein at least one mirror comprises a first reflective end,and a second reflective end, wherein the first reflective end reflectsand transmits light, wherein the second reflective end reflects andtransmits light, wherein the plurality of mirrors comprises at least afirst material having at least a first refractive index, and wherein theplurality of mirrors has an axis line; a first cladding comprising asecond material having a second refractive index; a second claddingcomprising a third material having a third refractive index wherein thesecond cladding is formed above the first cladding; a core comprising afourth material, and a plurality of core part, wherein the core isformed within at least one of the first or second claddings, and whereinthe fourth material has a fourth refractive index, wherein the pluralityof core part has a plurality of core part ends, and wherein at least oneof the plurality of core part ends is coupled to one of the reflectiveends, wherein at least one of the plurality of core part ends isapproximately parallel to one of the reflective ends, and wherein thefourth refractive index is greater than the second and third refractiveindices; and a plurality of reflectors, wherein the plurality ofreflectors comprises a fifth material, wherein the plurality ofreflectors is approximately parallel to the axis line, wherein a lineperpendicular to the axis line will intersect one of the reflective endsand intersect one of the plurality of reflectors.
 3. The opticalwaveguide device of claim 2, wherein the at least one mirror is aFresnel mirror, and wherein the at least one mirror reflects light byFresnel reflection, and wherein the axis line forms an angle of about 45degrees with the first and the second reflective ends.
 4. The opticalwaveguide device of claim 2 further comprising: an endpoint; and anendpoint light reflector formed at the endpoint, wherein the endreflector is substantially perpendicular to the axis line.
 5. Theoptical waveguide of claim 2, wherein the at least one first material isa first polymer material, wherein the fifth material is a metal, whereinthe second material is a second polymer material, and wherein the thirdmaterial is a third polymer material, and wherein the forth material isa fourth polymer material.
 6. The optical waveguide device of claim 2,wherein the plurality of mirrors couples a plurality of light beams fromthe optical waveguide.
 7. The optical waveguide device of claim 2,wherein the plurality of reflectors couples light from the opticalwaveguide.
 8. The optical waveguide device of claim 6, wherein the lightintensity per unit length of the optical waveguide device issubstantially uniform, wherein the intensity of the plurality of lightbeams is determined by the at least one first refractive index, whereinthere is a plurality of spacing distances between the plurality ofmirrors, and wherein the intensity per unit length of the opticalwaveguide of the plurality of light beams is determined by the pluralityof spacing distances.
 9. A method of extracting light from an opticalwaveguide, the method comprising: reflecting a first light beam by amirror to form a second light beam and a third light beam, wherein thefirst light beam is within an optical waveguide aimed in a firstdirection, wherein the optical waveguide comprises a first polymermaterial with a first refractive index, wherein the mirror comprises asecond polymer material, a first reflective end, and a second reflectiveend, wherein the second polymer material has a second refractive index,wherein the second refractive index has a different value than the firstrefractive index, wherein the mirror has an axis line that forms anangle of about 45 degrees with the first and second reflective ends,wherein the second light beam and the third light beam are aimed indirections approximately perpendicular to the first direction, andwherein at least one of the second and third light beams is coupled outof the optical waveguide; providing a fourth light beam, wherein thefourth light beam is within the optical waveguide; and reflecting atleast one of the third and fourth light beams by a reflector to form afifth light beam, wherein the reflector comprises a metallic material,wherein the reflector is approximately parallel to the axis line,wherein a line perpendicular to the axis line will intersect at leastone of the first and second reflective ends and intersect the reflector.